Redundancy Payments

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has had inquiries made as to the financial capability of industry to meet its liability for redundancy payments as they occur, in view of the Government's forecast of future unemployment, and the lack of growth anticipated; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to believe that industry is incapable of meeting its liability for statutory redundancy payments. However, in any case where an employer is unable to meet his liability, payment is made direct to the employee from the Redundancy Fund and attempts are then made to recover from the employer his share of the cost.